COLUMNS

Plywood has long been valued for its structural properties, but less so for its appearance. In cabinetry, furniture, and architectural applications, it has often served as the hidden layer beneath veneers, laminates, paint, or other…

Canadian organizations are experiencing a skilled trades labour shortage that is leaving building projects understaffed, delayed, and increasingly expensive. Expanding recruitment to include more women is one way to grow the talent…

Home renovation activity continues to hold steady, with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) reporting a neutral score of 50.3 in its spring Renovation Market Index (RMI).

In today’s hyper-connected world, where personal opinions are frequently shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, the lines between professional and private life are increasingly blurred. A common…

A new report from Cylindo, a software company specializing in 3-D product visualization for furniture and home goods e-commerce, highlights several trends shaping how furniture companies support online product evaluation. Here are the…

It’s a familiar story: A shopper falls in love with a sofa while scrolling Instagram late at night. The next day, they look it up on your website to get more details. Later in the week, they compare it on Amazon, then stop by a local…

“Governments have spent years prioritizing big business needs, while small firms have been largely ignored,” says Michelle Auger, CFIB director of trade and marketplace competitiveness. “It’s time to put small businesses first and reverse…

Production schedules are tight, orders need to be filled, and many shop owners and managers are deeply involved in day-to-day operations. When someone decides to attend a CKCA event, they are making a deliberate investment of time. That…

I’m an annoyingly honest person. Some people say I have no filter. Believe it or not, what comes out of my mouth is the filtered version. Over the years I’ve learned that honesty has been my greatest advocate in sales within the building…

In today’s woodworking and manufacturing landscape, quality is no longer a differentiator. Precision, durability, and innovation are expected. Whether you’re producing cabinetry, furniture, or architectural components, chances are your…

Architectural woodwork is not commodity manufacturing. It is custom, highly interpretive, and built at the intersection of design intent, material science, fabrication capability, and site conditions. Without a shared benchmark, each…

A recent pilot project supported by the Government of Alberta and led by the Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC) set out to answer a practical question for the woodworking industry: what actually helps attract and retain a broader workforce in…

Monarch Cabinetry is a cabinet shop in the Kelowna area of B.C., where owner Nick Koenig has turned years of jobsite experience into a small, contractor-focused operation. Koenig launched Monarch in June 2025, after nearly 15 years with…

Canadian consumers are redefining what home means and how much they’re willing to invest in it. Rising disposable incomes, shifting demographics and a renewed sense of national pride are fuelling a surge in spending on furniture, decor and…

Making good decisions quickly, at every level of your business, is key to efficiency, effectiveness and success. Yes, there are some key decisions that need to be mulled over and thoughtfully considered, but every day there are countless…

Technological maturity is not defined by how much software a business has purchased or how many digital tools it can list. It reflects how well technology supports the company’s strategy, day-to-day processes, and long-term goals.

Traditional top-down approaches that undermine employee engagement and fail to address their concerns aren't proving successful in today's dynamic and competitive landscape.

Your manager is buried. They’re unpacking materials at 6:00 a.m., fixing a display or setup that nobody else can seem to get right, covering a call-out on the floor, and trying to squeeze in interviews for the third assistant manager who…